School Lunch. What You Enjoyed--Or Missed

Last Sunday's "School Lunch" event put on by Cooks Confab and Slow Food Urban San Diego was that perfect combination of convivial, educational, and simply delicious. The crowd--and it was a crowd--learned about the issues around creating healthy lunch programs at our local schools from Vanessa Zajfen, San Diego Unified's Farm to School Specialist. In the background you could hear the chefs prepping the cafeteria line and before long lines of guests were forming to try the salad bar and nutritious and tasty variations on traditional (nasty) cafeteria items. Take a look...

Jack Fisher and Katie Grebow prepping their dishes

Even the chefs' kids got involved. Isn't Jason Knibb's son adorable!

Lori Huffman made strawberry yogurt with chocolate dipping sticks.

Paul McCabe and Donald Coffman made "fish and chips" -- wild striped bass and baked veggie chips

Just a part of the best salad bar ever from Waters Fine Catering and Melissa Mayer

Gorgeous noodle salad at the salad bar

The Altmanns with Lisa's amazing Viva Pops fresh popsicles.

Lots of culinary student volunteers from The Art Institute helped out.

Snake Oil's Ian Ward made "strawberry milkshakes."

Lining up at the salad bar...

Michelle Cox and daughter Cerise filled their trays.

Very casual lunch

Family-style lunch

Dining Detail's Julie Frans enjoying a meal without the kids.

Time for dessert!

Want to learn more about efforts at improving school lunch programs locally and beyond--and how you can effect change? Here are some resources:

San Diego Unified Farm to School program
EcoSchool Design
Edible Schoolyard
Chefs Move to Schools
Olivewood Gardens
School Nutrition Association
Slow Food in Schools

If you have some examples of school districts making positive changes or ideas for how to improve school nutrition, let's hear it!

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